Steel cased & misc. surplus ammo in FALs

[NWAttorney]

I'm waiting for my DSA FAL to arrive (2 more months), and in the mean time I'm trying to stock up on .308. The DSA website says NOT to fire:

- Any steel cased Russian or Chinese ammunition.
- Chilean 7.62mm that is marked "NATO"
- Cavim 7.62mm from Venezuela
- CBC 7.62mm from Brazil
- Indian 7.62mm from State factory
- 1970's production Israeli 7.62mm Browning machinegun ammunition.

I'm wanting to stock up on some “cheap” (if any .308 rounds can be called cheap nowadays) as prices are soaring, but wonder if I should just stay with American brass rounds. Also, I reload so I am getting some (500) in brass for reloading. But I wanted something readily available just in case TEOTWAWKI, etc. (as if there can be an “etc” to TEOTWAWKI !)

Anybody know about this either way?

NWAttorney

 

[sigman4rt]

Been the proud and happy owner of a DSA SA-58 since '98. I have shot all the surplus 7.62 I could lay my hands on through it. Minus the MG ammo and Indian. Never had a problem of any kind, it eats everything I feed it without a hitch. Curiously, I find that Federal Gold Medal Match ammo produced no better groups than Aussie surplus. So. African is mostly what I'm shooting now, good accuracy and goes bang every time. Currently, I have some Aussie, some Portuguese and So. African, all shoot fine. I have also noticed that you can use the dirtiest, cheapest, $3.00 magazines and they always work. The rifle is stock except for their Picatinny top cover. Installed as per instructions and it has never loosened, IMHO it is the "deal of the day." Leupold QRW rings and a Simmons Aetec 3-9x 40 scope, all return to zero no matter how many times you install or remove.

Enjoy!!

 

[Onmilo]

Several years ago I owned an FAL copy by Century Arms built on an Imbel receiver.
I had DSA rebarrel this rifle and not too long after I blew the extractor off using Chinese steel case ammunition.
As such I wouldn't recommend any steel case ammunition be used in an FAL type rifle either.

 

[sigman4rt]

Amen, to that, have never shot steel cased ammo in any gun I've owned, minus of AK's and an SKS. I also own a Century inch pattern L1A1, really neat variation of the FAL. Mags are a bit more expensive, otherwise a solid performer.

 

[Slamfire]

Any steel cased Russian or Chinese ammunition.
- Chilean 7.62mm that is marked "NATO"
- Cavim 7.62mm from Venezuela
- CBC 7.62mm from Brazil
- Indian 7.62mm from State factory
- 1970's production Israeli 7.62mm Browning machinegun ammunition

Steel case ammunition will stick in the chamber. Steel on steel contact creates much more breech friction than brass. The stuff is coated, with paint, maybe an invisible wax, but that surface treatment can wear off. And Chinese ammunition has been highly varible in quality. A friend of mine has told me of a spam can of Chinese ammunition he bought. He opened the can, everything OK, but the rounds were not. The cartridges had a slurry of water and gun powder in them!

I purchased one thousand rounds of CAVIM. The rounds were hot, something like 2900 fps, and the bullets were awful. Poor accuracy. However the brass is good.

Indian ammunition. Last year I think I heard folks reporting blowups with Indian ammunition. Caused a real price drop with them.

Basic problem with surplus ammunition is the Quality Control. First world stuff, like my Austrialian has been consistent, but when you get into those second or third world produced ammunition, well strange things can happen.

 

[Bwana John]

Favorite surplus 7.62 NATO ammo. Used to get it @~$0.13/round.... now ~$0.50/round!

RG-from England
F4-from Austrailia
Port-Portugul
Hirt-German
MEN-German
LC-US
SA-R1A1 South Africa
Indian from the 70's

No Steel Cases for me.

 

[nalioth]

Favorite surplus 7.62 NATO ammo. Used to get it @~$0.13/round.... now ~$0.50/round!

RG-from England
F4-from Austrailia
Port-Portugul
Hirt-German
MEN-German
LC-US
SA-R1A1 South Africa
Indian from the 70's

No Steel Cases for me.

Just make sure you don't get any of the bad stuff from an unscrupulous dealer. If you do, there are several gun forums with plenty of "Indian ammo blew off my friends hand" (not to mention destroying a nice rifle) stories and pictures.

Best not to shoot any Indian ammo at all.

 

[Browning]

This is what's been around lately.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Lithuanian_Surplus_M80_.308_7.62x51_146grn_FMJ.html

http://www.the-armory.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product6.html

This is the brass cased Wolf ammo, it isn't steel cased like their other ammo.
http://www.the-armory.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/308_Win_fmj.html

http://www.jgsales.com/index.php/ammo-for-rifles/308-win-7-62x51-nato-/cPath/12_43

http://www.ammo4guns.com/RIFLE_AMMO.html

 

[NWAttorney]

Thanks Everybody.
NWAttorney

 

[LeibstandarteAdH]

Hirt is from Austria.

 

[LeibstandarteAdH]

Oh and im with the "Indian From the 70's" too. I have shot at least 2-3 thousand of the OFV 74 and OFV 75 through my Fav. G3 clone over the past few years with no problem. i got all mine when J&G Sales had it sealed for 99$ per 400 Round case. Like i said i would not shoot anything other then the OFV 74 and OFV 75, which is all i KNOW to be good stuff. I have heard HORROR STORYS about the later stuff like OFV 98, doubble projectile loads and so on....!!!

 

[gezzer]

Hirtenberg is tops, so is Portuguese but alas good luck finding any, 5 years ago all over at reasonable prices now none.

The Chilean is suspect to year of manufacture. Some years blow up guns. I have however shot 20-30 cans in a 1919A4 with no issues but for a FAL I will pass.

Right now 7.62x51 is in very short supply. I will pass on the Indian and Paki as they blow up lots of stuff. Find any Malay buy it as I have had very good luck with it but again where is it?

 

[lamazza]

Stay away from the Indian stuff